Persona 5, three Persona 4 spin-offs coming in 2014

By Brenna Hillier

Persona 5 is coming, but that’s not all Atlus has in store for fans this year, with three Persona 4 spin-offs on the way, too. Teaser trailers and all details through the break.

In a series of announcements made during a livestreamed event this weekend, and following a series of clues and teasers, Atlus finally committed to what we’ve all known had to come eventually – Persona 5. A PlayStation 3 exclusive, it’s been confirmed for northern winter release in Japan, but no western date has been announced.

Hardcore fans of the Shin Megami Tensei sub-franchise may take some pleasure in key staff confirmed for the project so far – director Katsura Hashino, character designer Shigenori Soejima and composer Shoji Meguro. A Japanese website is available, although it’s pretty bare at present.

Here’s the first teaser trailer:

Before we get Persona 5 there’ll be a couple of Persona 4 games to enjoy. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is a 3DS dungeon crawler starring chibi versions of characters from Persona 3 and Persona 4. It’s due in Japan in June 2014, but again, has not yet been confirmed for western release.

The plot has a strange clock tower appearing in the school yard in Persona 4; its peals somehow transport the heroes of Persona 3 to the world of Persona 4 and trap them there. The two teams must find the lost memories of new characters Zen and Rei. You can choose to play as Persona 3‘s Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad or Persona 4‘s Investigation Team, and will see different dialogue and more detailed events depending on this choice.

Directed by Daisuke Kaneda, who also gave us Etrian Odyssey, it uses a command battle system. Hashino is acting as chief producer, while Soejima is and Meguro will again provide their talents.

Again, there’s a new website and a teaser trailer.

The next new title is little kookier; Persona 4: Dancing All Night is a Vita exclusive “sound action” game from Dingo, developer of the bestselling Hatsune Miku games. It’s due in northern autumn 2014 in Japan; no western launch, again.

Gameplay takes the form of “battle dance” – whatever that is – in a mysterious world called the Mayonaka Stage.

Set six months after Persona 4, it has Rise Kujikawa returning to show business. Member’s of her idol group Kanamin Kitchen begin to vanish after rumours arise of a website which can transport visitors to another world. Yu Narukami will return, and new character Kanami Mashita was announced.

Here’s the teaser and website:

Finally, the last announcement was the release date of fighter sequel Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold, which is coming to arcades in Japan on November 28. The PS3 version is coming in northern summer 2014 – in Japan only, at this stage.

All details courtesy of Gematsu, drawing on Japanese reports: 1, 2, 3, 4.

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